Is a Boiler The Right Option for Your Highland Park Home?

Nov 27, 2015

Radiant heating has been a viable heating option for well over a century, despite the popularity of forced-air systems in recent decades. If you’re considering a new heating system for your Highland Park home, radiant heating is one to put on the list. Boilers are the heart of most radiant heating systems.

What a Boiler Is and How Does It Work

A boiler is a tank or vessel in which water or another fluid is heated by gas, propane heating oil or electricity. It is part of an overall radiant heating system installed in a home. Water enters the boiler through a cold water intake. Burners, typically fueled by natural gas, heat up the water in the tank to a designated temperature close to boiling.

A special pump then pushes the resulting hot water or steam into the radiant heating network in each room of the home. These could be traditional stand-up radiators, radiant baseboards, or radiant panels installed in the floor or wall. The heat from the water or steam radiates into the room. The cooled or condensed water then returns to the boiler to be reheated and circulated again.

Is a Boiler a Good Fit for Your Home?

That is something only you can answer. Many homeowners consider a boiler system to be an efficient, clean, quiet way to heat their home. Modern boilers outpace forced-air systems for efficiency. They do not move air through the home, which reduces the spread of allergens. The possibility of conditioned air escaping from ducts is also eliminated. Because there is no fan involved, a boiler system is very quiet.

The biggest concern with a radiant heating system that includes a boiler is the initial installation price, which can be measurably higher than traditional furnaces. This is because a network of pipes or radiators must also be installed throughout the house, unless it already is outfitted with such a system. Of course, forced-air systems have the same issues with the necessary ductwork. With radiant/boiler systems, the energy efficiency you gain should return the initial costs in the form of lower energy bills. Another drawback to a boiler system is that you would need a separate air conditioning system (as is the case with a forced-air furnace).

For more information about boilers and radiant heating systems, please contact Carefree Comfort, Inc. at 847-388-0115. Our technicians have the knowledge and expertise to install, service, and repair a variety of HVAC systems. We proudly serve our neighbors in Highland Park and the surrounding communities.